Spring training: Sure, Zack Greinke chose the Dodgers mostly for the money, but he also expects the club to keep spending to remain competitive. (AP Photo)

Nearly all in that group know what it’s like to not live up to those expectations.

Kemp had a monster season in 2009, only to tank in 2010 and have his coaches rip him publicly. Ethier showed superstar potential around the same time; now, the Los Angeles Dodgers would trade him and his remaining $83.5 million for the right package. Ramirez was a former batting champion-turned-liability for the Miami Marlins. Greinke won a Cy Young Award in 2009, then saw his ERA skyrocket more than two runs the next season.

As for the trio of former Red Sox, well, you know the story of the September collapse in 2011 and last year’s monstrosity of a summer. Only Kershaw has escaped major disappointment so far.

This year they have a chance to remove any blemishes they’ve helped create, but only if the Dodgers win a World Series. They can also get a another huge taste of disappointment if this team does anything less.

Gonzalez, Crawford and Beckett played for a Boston team that had championship aspirations two years ago, but that infamous September collapse led to their manager, Terry Francona, being fired. That led to Bobby Valentine taking over and, eventually, to last season’s misery, which led to those three being shipped to LA in a blockbuster August trade that left sports fans agape at the money involved.

Greinke, who was with the Los Angeles Angels at the time of that trade, said he initially thought the Dodgers were “stupid” for making the deal, but he also said he thought it was a “bold” move to help them win immediately.

For those three, as well infielder Nick Punto, who also went to the Dodgers in the deal, the last two seasons remain fresh in their memories.

“For me, baseball is not played on paper,” Beckett said. “You have to work hard in spring training, because a lot of things are going to happen that can’t be foreseen right now.”

The Dodgers have created World Series-or-bust expectations because their ownership group, Guggenheim Baseball Management, is willing to spend for players. This year’s payroll of about $230 million is the highest in the game’s history, and the roster includes a dozen former All-Stars.

It’s safe to say the target has been attached and isn’t going to be shaken off.

“I feel like that, yeah,” said manager Don Mattingly, who doesn’t have a contract for next season and could be the fall guy if the Dodgers fall short of expectations. “I feel like that’s something that’s just something that’s there. Why deny it? Why run away from it? It’s going to be there. That’s just us being realistic.”

The main criticism of the Dodgers after their trade for Ramirez last July and the trade with Boston was that they didn’t have the necessary chemistry to win. Last weekend, first baseman Brandon Belt of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants was quoted as saying, “All I can say is you can’t buy chemistry.”

While the analytical corner—media, scouts and executives included—claimed it would rather have an abundance of talent than a bunch of friendly ballplayers and that winning first breeds chemistry, the Dodgers now have a full spring training to build that attribute regardless of whether it's necessary. Kemp and Gonzalez are already chummy. Kemp and Crawford are already giving each other the “What are you doing later?” questions as they depart the clubhouse. Greinke and Kershaw are cracking jokes about Kershaw’s potential free agency in 2014.

Clearly the mood is light, but the team understands whtat's at stake. Greinke, who is a big reason why expectations are so high, said the Dodgers' long-term potential helped him settle on them—that, and the $147 million they're paying him.

“Every team has their way to sustain being good for an extended period of time, and this was more the case of a good major league team where they were going to have talent for years,” Greinke said. “And they have enough (money) that if something doesn’t go right, they can go out and do something to keep the team competitive. But I don’t see this team not being competitive for a while, at least hopefully not until after my contract.”

That is the plan, but plans go awry, as we saw in Boston the last couple seasons and with the Angels last year. High payrolls and a dugout full of All-Stars don’t always equate to even October baseball, let alone a World Series championship.

“Over the years you see teams are supposed to be great on paper or a guy was great a year ago or two years ago. You don’t win games that way,” Mattingly said. “You win games by performing, executing, doing the stuff nobody wants to hear about, the small things.

“When you see things on paper, that’s the past. It’s who are you now.”